Azalea plant named ‘MNIELE’

ABSTRACT

A new variety of  Azalea  plant found as a seedling in a planned cross between the female  Azalea  ‘Delos’ and the male  Azalea  ‘Dorothy Clark’ is disclosed. The new variety is an upright, open natured plant with attractive evergreen foliage, and very large and unique, single, bi-colored flowers that fall off clean.

Genus/species: Rhododendron sp.

Botanical designation: ‘MNIELE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a new and distinct variety of evergreen Azaleaof the genus Rhododendron. This new Azalea, hereinafter referred to as‘MNIELE’, was discovered in March, 1999 in Lawrenceville, Ga. ‘MNIELE’originated from a planned cross hybridization between hybrid Azalea‘Delos’ (unpatented) and hybrid Azalea ‘Dorothy Clark’ (unpatented) inLawrenceville, Ga. The value of this new cultivar lies in its bloomcolor, bloom size, growth habit, foliage and cold hardiness.

Asexual propagation of the new plant by cuttings was performed inDearing, Ga. The new plant retains its distinctive characteristics andreproduces true to type in successive generations by vegetativepropagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Dearing, Ga.

-   -   1. Large, showy bi-color flowers;    -   2. Large, single flower;    -   3. Easily propagated by semi-hardwood cuttings in late spring        through summer;    -   4. Flowers fall off clean;    -   5. Upright, open, and spreading nature;    -   6. Attractive foliage;    -   7. Grows well in containers;    -   8. Thrives in shade or sun;    -   9. Hardy in USDA Zone 7a.; and    -   10. Occasionally re-blooming in fall.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Azalea hybrid variety is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs which show blooms and foliage of the plant in full bloom.The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic means.

FIG. 1. shows a close-up view of flower buds, immature foliage, andstems.

FIG. 2. shows several mature inflorescences.

FIG. 3. shows mature foliage and growth habit of a seven-gallon plant.

FIG. 4. shows a close-up view of stems.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new variety of Azaleabased on observations made of a 3 year-old plant grown in a seven-galloncontainer according to wholesale commercial production conditions inDearing, Ga. The colors of the various plant parts are detailed withreference to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart.

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Ericaceae.        -   Species.—Rhododendron sp.        -   Common name.—Azalea.        -   Commercial name.—‘MNIELE’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Glenn Dale hybrid Azalea ‘Delos’            (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Harris hybrid Azalea ‘Dorothy Clark’            (unpatented).-   Growth:    -   -   Form.—Open and spreading.        -   Height.—12-18 inches.        -   Width.—4-5 feet.        -   Growth habit.—Upright, open, and spreading.        -   Growth rate.—Fast growth rate under normal fertilization and            moisture conditions. In a period of six years from a rooted            cutting, the plant reaches a height of 24-36 inches and a            spread of 3 feet. The growth rate is normally about 4 to 6            inches per year; the plant reaches a height of 48 to 72            inches at maturity.        -   Spring growth.—In 2004, the date of initial spring growth            was March 16, in Dearing, Ga. After the initial spring            flush, there was continuous growth through the fall. The            average length of terminal growth of the initial spring            flush is about 3 inches for a plant in full sun and and            about 3¼ inches when grown in shade. This growth, if not            pruned, will begin to produce flowers starting in late            March. The remaining growth produces about 2 to 3 inches of            new growth.        -   Life cycle.—Perennial and evergreen.-   Leaves: Leaves are evergreen.    -   -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate, simple.        -   Leaf shape.—Broadly elliptic.        -   Leaf length.—2½ inches.        -   Leaf width.—1¼ inches.        -   Leaf margin.—Entire.        -   Leaf base.—Acuminate.        -   Leaf apex.—Mucronate.        -   Petiole length.— 3/16 inch.        -   Petiole color.—RHS 146C (yellow-green).        -   Mature leaf.—Upper leaf surface: Surface texture:            Semi-glossy. Surface color: RHS 147A (yellow-green). Surface            pubescence: Slight. Surface pubescence color: FHS 164B            (greyed-orange). Midveins and laterals: Impressed on            surface. Lower leaf surface: Surface texture: Matte. Surface            color: RHS 146B (yellow-green). Surface pubescence: Slight.            Surface pubescence color: RHS N163C (greyed-orange).            Midveins and laterals: Prominent on surface.        -   Immature leaf.—Upper leaf surface: Surface texture: Matte.            Surface color: RHS 144A (yellow-green). Surface pubescence:            Strigose and Scabrous. Surface pubescence color: RHS 168D            (greyed-orange). Lower leaf surface: Surface texture: Matte.            Surface color: RHS 146C (yellow-green). Surface pubescence:            Strigose. Surface pubescence color: RHS 155C (white).            Immature petioles and midveins: Petiole color: RHS 146C            (yellow-green). Midvein color: RHS 146C (yellow-green).            Petiole pubescence: Strigose. Petiole pubescence color: RHS            168D (greyed-orange). New growth pubescence: Strigose,            scabrous. Length of pubescence: 1/32 inch; numerous on            mid-vein and petiole.-   Stems:    -   -   Young stems.—Stem color: RHS 144B (yellow-green). Stem            pubescence: Strigose. Stem pubescence color: at point of            attachment individual hairs emerge RHS 155C (white) and            mature to RHS 167A (greyed-orange); hairs distal from stem            are RHS 164C (greyed-orange). Stem length: 3 to 6 inches.            Stem diameter: ⅛ to 3/16 inch.        -   Second-year stems.—Stem color: RHS 199A (greyed-brown) and            RHS 197B (greyed-green). Stem pubescence: Strigose. Stem            pubescence color: RHS 166C (greyed-orange). Stem length: 3            to 6 inches. Stem diameter: 3/16 to ¼ inch.        -   Pith.—Solid and uniform.        -   Internode length.—Grown in full sun: ⅛ inch to ⅞ inch; Grown            in light shade: ⅛ to ¾ inch.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Buds.—Tight; borne in groups of 2 to 3, sheathed by a pair            of modified leaf bracts.        -   Bud shape.—Ovate.        -   Bud size.—⅝×¼ inch.        -   Bud scale.—Distal portion pubescent, individual hairs emerge            RHS 155C (white) and mature to RHS N165B (greyed-orange).        -   Bud color.—RHS 145B (yellow-green) and RHS N34C            (orange-red).        -   Bud sheath.—Bud sheath length: ½ to 1 inch. Immature sheath            color: RHS 147A (yellow-green). Mature: As the buds swell,            the bud sheath matures to RHS 174A (greyed-orange), RHS 165B            and RHS 145D (yellow-green), falls off and reveals the            flower color of RHS 54A, RHS 55C, and RHS 56A.        -   Bud pedicel.—Pedicel length: ¼ to ½ inch. Pedicel color: RHS            153A (yellow-green). Pedicel pubescence: Strigose. Pedicel            pubescence color: RHS 164C (greyed-orange).        -   Calyx.—Calyx shape: Cup-shaped, 5 sepals. Size: ⅜ inch long.            Color: RHS 145A (yellow-green). Pubescence: Strigose. Color            of pubescence: RHS 164D (greyed-orange).-   Flowers:    -   -   Flower type.—Single, perfect.        -   Flowering habit.—Borne on the current season's growth.        -   Lastingness of flowers on the plant.—5-6 days in the garden,            then fall off clean.        -   Length of flowering period.—2 to 3 weeks in late March and            early April in Dearing, Ga. Occasional re-blooming from            September until frost.        -   Peduncle length.—¼ inch.        -   Peduncle diameter.— 3/16 inch.        -   Flower shape.—Open funnel-shaped.        -   Flower diameter.—4½ to 5½ inches.        -   Petal number.—5 fused at the base and remain fused up to 1¼            inches from the base.        -   Petal pubescence.—Glabrous.        -   Petal shape.—Orbicular with rounded apices and undulate            margins.        -   Petal size.—2 inches long by 2 inches wide.        -   Petal color.—Upper and lower surfaces: RHS 54A (red) near            border, RHS 55C and RHS 56A (red) in the center. Spots on            upper surfaces of 3 of the five petals: RHS 53B (red) and            RHS 165C (greyed-orange).        -   Sepals.—Ovate and joined at the base to form a cup.        -   Sepal number.—5.        -   Sepal color.—RHS 145A (yellow-green).        -   Sepal size.—⅜ inch long× 3/16 inch wide.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Ovary.—Densely villous.        -   Placenta arrangement.—12 locules.        -   Pistil.—Single, non-petaloid.        -   Pistil length.—2⅛ inches long.        -   Stigma color.—RHS 46A (red).        -   Style color.—RHS 58D, RHS 68D, and RHS 58A (red-purple).        -   Stamen number.—8 non-petaloid.        -   Stamen length.—1¾ inches.        -   Stamen color.—Filaments: RHS 56D (red). Anthers: RHS 170A            (greyed-orange).        -   Pollen color.—RHS 4D (yellow).        -   Fragrance.—None.

CULTURE

‘MNIELE’ grows well in a wide range of conditions and tolerates sun toshade. It prefers moist, well-drained soil that is rich in organicmatter and responds well to mulching and medium applications offertilizer. It does best in soil with a pH of 5.0 to 5.5. It ispropagated with semi-hardwood cuttings in late Spring through theSummer.

DISEASES/INSECTS

Lace bugs and spider mites can be a problem.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL CULTIVARS

The female, or seed parent of ‘MNIELE’ is the Glenn Dale hybrid Azalea‘Delos’ (unpatented) which has light purplish pink, double flowers, is amid-season bloomer, and is an erect to spreading grower. ‘Delos’ is theresult of a cross between the white or purplish red blooming ChineseAzalea ‘Vittata Fortunei’ (unpatented) and the deep purplish pinkblooming Satsuki hybrid ‘Warai-Jishi’ (unpatented).

The male, or pollen, parent is Harris hybrid ‘Dorothy Clark’(unpatented) which has light pink with light red border, single flowers,is a mid-season bloomer, and is an upright grower. ‘Dorothy Clark’ isthe result of a cross between the vivid pink blooming Glenn Dale hybrid#87 ‘Grace Freeman’ (unpatented) and the vivid red blooming Satsukihybrid ‘Amagasa’ (unpatented).

In Table 1 below, the instant plant is shown in comparison with theparental cultivars.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘MNIELE’ ‘Delos’ ‘Dorothy Clark’ Height (Mature)48-72 inches 6 ft. 3 ft. Width (Mature) 4-5 ft. 6 ft. 3 ft. FlowerDiameter 4½ to 5½ in. 2½ in. 4½ in. Flower Form Single Double SingleFlower Color Red Light Light pink center, purplish- Light red borderpink Flowers per 2 to 3 2 2 Terminal Bloom Period Late March to Mid-Mid-April Mid to Late April April, occasionally reblooms from Septemberuntil frost Petal Number 5 15 5 Hardy Zone 7a 7 7 Stamen Number 8 0-1 10Stamen Type Non-petaloid Petaloid Non-petaloid

1. A new variety of Azalea plant named ‘MNIELE’ as herein shown anddescribed.